Victory for a Triumph: Classic restored car receives accolades

When given the opportunity, Dennis Morrison of Wakefield agreed to restore a 1960 Triumph sight unseen.

Beth I. Gandelman

Dennis Morrison of Wakefield developed a passion for British Triumph sports cars in high school, and they have been a part of his life ever since.

While working at Metcalf & Eddy in Wakefield as the chief financial officer, a co-worker helped make his retirement dream come true. He was given a 1960 Triumph TR3A two years ago that was garaged for about 25 years in Concord. The beat-up car that endured New England winters in a garage that was partially opened became a first place winner last week at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum in Brookline.

Morrison completely disassembled the reddish colored car with a red interior piece-by-piece except for the engine, frame and chassis. He knew it was in rough shape, but agreed to restore it, sight unseen.

By chance, Steve Mackay, owner of Mackay’s Garage in Wakefield, found him dismantling the car, and that was the beginning of a two-year auto restoration. Mackay specializes in British car repairs and restoration, almost all resulting in first-place awards.

“I wasn’t in a hurry and Steve had lots of cars he was working on, so we’ve been in constant communication over the past two years,” said Morrison. “The rebuilt engine has only 300 miles on it. The engine block, carburetors, gauges and frame are all originals. Steve kept as much as possible to the original design. Only safety and performance parts were upgraded. Everything was rebuilt to the original specifications.

“Steve rebuilt everything himself; he only sent out the upholstery and the paint job and subbed out a couple of things to a certified shop to meet original standards. The new red leather seats sit on the original seat frames. My son and I decided to change the exterior paint color to black. Steve re-chromed, re-calibrated and re-glassed as much as was needed”

And the results are spectacular.

“The original gas tank was built for leaded gas, so Steve recommended I buy the highest octane unleaded, and that works fine. That is the only part that doesn’t have to meet today’s standards. I passed the state inspection without a problem. The emissions tests don’t have to meet the same standards.

“Steve only works on British antique cars and he is so meticulous. He knows every bolt, washer – every single part of British cars – and he has the patience to remove each piece. He takes each car to the level the owner wants, whether it is to do a total restoration like mine or just get it to run again. He measured the frame on my car and found it was perfect.”

According to Mackay’s Web site, he has more than 30 years of experience rebuilding and restoring British cars. Every car in his personal collection has won a first place award at the British Invasion Show. (You can see the parts restoration before and after of Morrison’s Triumph and other award-winning cars on Mackay’s website at www.mackaysgarage.com.)

Morrison said the paint job, which was the most expensive part of the restoration, was done at Northeast Auto Body in New Hampshire, as selected by Mackay. They traveled together to the shop twice to view the paint job that was meticulously achieved with several coats of primer, black paint and clear finish. The contrast of the polished chrome and shiny black paint are striking. The car is so shiny that every speck of dust or pollen shows and Morrison is constantly dusting it off, though he keeps it covered and garaged.

Whenever Morrison has been out to fill the gas tank or run an errand around town, it may take as long as an hour, because so many people gather around the car, talk to him about it and ask questions. For some, it brings back childhood memories. He’s hardly used to the attention but loves to talk about something that’s been his lifelong passion.

He even has a crank to start it up, though the standard transmission starts with a key. The striking new wheel covers are reminiscent of the original. He found an antique steering wheel, which complements the style of the car.

Even the chrome engine is strikingly clean and shiny with a new Lucas battery and electronic components. Lucas is the original manufacturer of Triumph batteries and parts and is still in business today.

Morrison is planning to drive the car to Stowe, Vermont in mid-September for the largest British Motorcar Show in New England. It is a four-day celebration and salute to the great British antique motorcars for a competition known as “The British Invasion.”

This week, if it’s not raining, he plans to drive the convertible back to the Larz Anderson Auto Museum for another competition called “Day of Triumph” with professional judges, sponsored by the New England Triumph Club. The first-place award he won the first week the car was on the road was judged against 20-30 other Triumphs by visitors to the show.

According to Morrison, Mackay deserves all the credit:

“It’s his cars that won three first-place awards in one day including Best of Show. He restored a silver-blue 1954 Austin Healey 100M, which is very rare, that won Best of Show, plus a 1960 white MGA and my car all won awards.”

A Long History of Triumphs

Morrison also owns a blue Triumph TR6 with a black interior that he purchased in 1971 while he was serving as a first lieutenant in the Army in Vietnam. He purchased it through the Army buying service, and the same day he arrived home from Vietnam, the car arrived from England.

“The TR6 is 38 years old and it hasn’t run for 20 years,” said Morrison. “I plan to dismantle the TR6 but it doesn’t need nearly as much work as the TR3A. That car will be the one to drive and the TR3A will be the one to show and drive locally. Some parts need replacing and the interior needs refurbishing.”

In 1969, Morrison owned three Triumphs at one time, but because he relocated from Maryland to California, he sold them all. In high school, his friend received his first car, a Triumph, as a gift from his parents. Since that time he has loved Triumphs. He even owned a Triumph motorcycle, and although it’s British, it’s from a different company than Triumph cars.

What does Morrison usually drive?

“I drive a Jeep Grand Cherokee, and I have a Ford 150 truck that I bought to haul the Triumphs,” he said. Now that he retired three weeks ago, Morrison plans to enjoy his “new” Triumph and return to Maryland one of these days, where his family still lives. He’s lived and worked in Wakefield for the past 10 years, while his wife stayed in Maryland due to family obligations. He commuted back to Fallston, Maryland (about 25 miles Northeast of Baltimore) every other weekend.

He will not reveal the cost of the restoration, only to say: “I have a lot of money into it, but it was a labor of love.”

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